Spring-tension device for belt buckles and the like



.Jan.27,, 9 5 4 1,524,616

T. C. ERPENBECK SPRING TENSIONDEVICE FOR BELT BUCKLES AND THE LIKE FiledApril 14, 1.922

1/ C 'IHI'IH m m I THEODORE C. ER-PENBECK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPRING-TENSION DEVICE FOR BELT BUCKLES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed April 14, 1822.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE C. EnrEN- BECK, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSpring- Tension Devices for Belt Buckles and the like, of which thefollowing is a specification.

' My invention relates to tension devices for use in belt buckles andthe like devices employed for supporting the trousers and for other usessimilar thereto, and the special object of my present invention is toprovide a tension device for such buckle, which is easily and quicklyassembled, with the other parts of belt buckles, and one which isadaptable to different styles and makes of belt buckles, and providing atension means which automatically expands and contracts with theexpansion and contraction of the waist in breathing, walking, or otherbodily exertions, and adapts itself to the shape and size of the waist,without rigidity or restriction usual with belt buckles not contain ingsome tension. means.

Another object. is to provide a tension device which may be easilyremoved from the buckle frame, and placed upon another buckle frame, ora new spring or parts supplied to replace worn or broken parts at lowcost and easily and quickly.

\Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, which are morespecifically set forth in the following specifications, my inventionconsists of the parts and arrangement of parts as hereinafter describedand claimed, and while I do not wish to be restricted to the exactdetails of construction shown herein, yet, for'the purposes ofillustrating a. particular embodiment thereof, reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate thesame parts throughout the several views, and in which, Figure 1 is aplan view of the stem as blanked out and before forming as shownhereafter.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along Serial No. 552,751.

Figure 4t shows a variation adapted for attachment to a post on abuckle.

Figure 5 shows a variation adapted to be attached to a buckle inopenings provided in the sides of the buckle.

Figure 6 shows another variation also adapted for attachment byinserting in openings in the sides of the buckle, and also provided withan opening for receiving a roller for holding the belt.

Figure 7 shows another variation, in which one end of the stem isshortened, and provided with ears adapted to engage a. slot provided inthe stem for receiving said ears, and locking the said parts againstdiseng agement.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, I have shown thestyle of tension device which I prefer. In this style, I have employed adouble stem, folded about the crossbar of the tongue or other buckle,making the construction very strong and impossible to break or displaceor disengage. The double stem is formed by stamping out of a thin pieceof metal of the general shape as shown at 1 in Figure 1.

The two longitudinal openings 2, 2 are prov vided in the respective endsto receive the rivet hereinafter described, to attach the tension deviceand buckle attached to it to the belt, while the up-turned tongues 3, atthe outer ends of the longitudinal openings are provided to engage andretain the spring hereinafter described upon the said stem after it isintroduced thereon as hereinafter described. Midway of the length of thestem 1 I have provided an additional opening as 4 of a suitable size andshape to accommodate the tongue of the tongue buckle whenever my tensiondevice is attached to a tongue buckle.

Whenever it is desired to assemble and attach my said spring tensiondevice to a tongue-buckle, the tongue 6 of the buckle is passed throughthe opening 4 in said stem, and the said stem 1 is folded about thecross bar 5 of said tongue buckle, with the outer ends equal as shown inFigures 2 and 3, the tongues 8, 3 being directed out-- wardly as shownin Figures 2 and 3. A suitable tension spring as 7 is passed over thefree ends of the stem, past the tongues 3, 3, which, engage the outerend of the spring and hold it against disengagement.

My said tension device and buckle are now assembled, and to attach themto the desired belt, the. free ends of the stem 1 with the springthereon, are inserted between the upper and lower layers 9 and 10 of atubular belt, and a rivet, as 11 passed through said belt and theopenings 2 in the stem above the spring 7 as in Figure 3. This attachesthe buckle and spring device securely to the belt, and whenever tensionis applied upon the belt in use, the tension upon the beltand rivet isapplied against the spring 7, thereby compressing said spring 7,andpermittin belt to yield as required to the tension applied thereto. i'aenever the tension is released, the spring forces the rivet and beltback to the initial posi on as shown in Fi res 2 and 3.

l have,preterabl y made my spring device as shown in Figures .1, 2 f d3, as the double stem, folded as shown provides a very light and strongconstruction, quite impossible to become accidentally disengaged, or tobreak, as practically the only place it can break is at its middle whereit passes around the cross bar 5, and here it is spe cially reinforcedby being made of additional width. However, for attachment to somestyles of buckles having a post for attachment, l have provided one endof the stem with an eyelet 12, as in Figure 4c, having a narrowextension for engaging and retaining the head of the post againstdisengagement, the other member of the stem being constructed exactlysimilar to that shown in Figure 1 above described.

In Figure 5 I have shown another variation in which I have providedroller ends 13 adapted for engagement ,with suitable openings in thesides of the buckle to which it is to be attached. At Figure 6 I haveprovided still another variation in which one end of the stem isprovided witlrroller ends as 14,.and also with a slot as 15, which maybe utilized to insert the opening of a hollow roller 18 similar to thoseemployed on roller belt buckles. In Figure 7 I have shown still anothervariation, in which one end of the stem is short and provided with earsas 16 adapted to engagev and be retained by the slot 17 after the endhas been folded about the cross bar 5 of the tongue buckle orotherbuckle to which it-is attached.

In each of the foregoing variations, the spring 7 is provided similar toFigures 2 and 3, and this is retained in position upon the stem means ofthe outwardly turned tongue 3, as in Figures Qand 8. Also the springtension device 1s attached to the belt by passing a rivet, or otherfastening means through the belt, and through the longitudinal opening 2as in Figures 2 and 3, and the operation of the spring; tension isexactly similar in all such variations to that above described inFigures 1, 2 and 3-above.

By employing my tension device in belt buckles, and other similar uses,it provides an elastic ieans for keeping the belt close fitting at alltimes, without undue restriction. Also, whenever the muscles of thewaist expand in breathing, or in movement, the spring tension devicepermits an extension of the belt to accommodate the increased girth, andwhenever such tension is relaxed, as in expelling the breath, or inother movement, the tension device takes up such slack, and adjusts thebelt closely about person all times. It will also be seen "t an beadjusted to properly hold the without being too tight when breath l, orafter a hearty meal, and that tree from the unhealth'ful obordinary beltwhich tends to encourage the aldominal muscles to relax and permit t 10belt to hold up the abdomen in place of the muscles. lt will also beseen that my new tension device is especially valuable for use in allsports as base ball, tennis, etc, as it permits full and free movementof the muscles without the restriction of the rigid belt.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim, and desiretosecure by Letters Patent, is the followings- 1. In a device of thecharacter described, a stem formed of a single piece of material foldedupon itself to provide relatively long spaced parallel portions andbight portion, the bight portion being adapted to embrace the cross barof afbuckle element, the parallel portions each having a longitudinalslot therein and an outwardly directed ear at the inner end of eachslot, a spring embracing the stem and its inner end engaging said ears,and means passing through said slots at the outer ends thereof andengaging the outer end of the spring whereby to prevent displacement ofthe spring and to secure the buckle element against displacement.

2. In a device of the character described, a stem having alongitudinalslot therein and at the inner end of the slot having an outwardlydirected ear, the outer end of the stem being formed for attachment of abuckle element, a spring embracing the stem and at. its innerend-bearing against said ear, a belt enclosing the major portion of thestem, and a device passing through the belt-and through the slot of thestem at the outer end of the-latter and bearing against the outer, endof the spring whereby to secure the stem to the belt and to preventdislodgment oi? the spring and to secure the buckle element againstseparation from the stem.

In testimony whereof, I. have hereunto set my hand.

THEODORE C. ERPENBECK.

Witnesses RICHARD A. GREEN, CHESTER W., BR WN.

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